cannabisnews.com: White House Blasts Lawrence Pot Proposal White House Blasts Lawrence Pot Proposal Posted by CN Staff on August 26, 2005 at 09:56:46 PT By Eric Weslander Source: Lawrence Journal-World Lawrence, Kansas -- Lawrence’s police chief thinks it could have “great merit.” The mayor supports it, and so does the county’s top prosecutor. But George Bush’s White House says a proposal to take a streamlined approach to marijuana-possession crimes in Lawrence is a dangerous idea.Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, D.C., told the Journal-World on Thursday that marijuana was a “harmful drug” that should be strictly regulated. “Marijuana is a great source of ignorance for many people,” Lemaitre said. “They think that it’s a soft drug or harmless drug, that law enforcement is wasting its resources by prosecuting these cases. That’s not true.”A newly formed group, Drug Policy Forum of Kansas, is asking the City Commission to start sending marijuana-possession and drug-paraphernalia cases from District Court into the more informal Municipal Court. The group argues the change is needed to cut prosecution costs and keep college students from being denied financial aid under a 1998 federal law.Lemaitre, the White House spokesman, said most efforts like the one in Lawrence weren’t grass-roots, but were part of a national campaign funded, in part, by activists such as billionaire George Soros. Soros sits on the board of directors of the Drug Policy Alliance, which is working to liberalize drug laws.The local group’s director, Laura A. Green, said that, so far, the group was using a combination of personal money and volunteer work for its efforts. But she said the group was seeking funding from national groups.Marijuana enforcement is seen as an increasingly high priority for the federal government, according to a study released in May by The Sentencing Project, a think tank based in Washington, D.C.The study found that marijuana arrests grew by 113 percent between 1990 and 2002 — while overall arrests decreased by 3 percent — and that the country spends an estimated $4 billion each year on arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating marijuana offenders.During an online Journal-World chat on Thursday, Police Chief Ron Olin indicated he wasn’t opposed outright to the local proposal and said that, if done well, it could have “great merit.”“I don’t want to see anything that’s contrary to state law or somehow implies that we are some sanctuary that has legalized marijuana,” Olin said after the chat. “I want to see exactly what the proposal is.”Olin said officers routinely happen upon small amounts of marijuana by chance. When that happens, he said, they must go through the trouble of making an arrest, filling out an evidence sheet, writing police reports and writing affidavits for court.If the city changes the procedure, officers likely would be required only to issue the suspect a notice to appear in municipal court: a piece of paper similar to a traffic ticket. Olin said the change could give “more latitude in the enforcement action than we have at the present time.”Bruce Beale, director of DCCCA, a drug and alcohol treatment program in Lawrence, said he would have no problem changing how drug violations are adjudicated, as long as the change didn’t make it easier to get away with marijuana use.Marijuana and alcohol, he said, are “gateway drugs” to more dangerous substances.“Prosecutions are typically a deterrent,” Beale said.The City Commission is expected to discuss the idea at a Sept. 6 meeting. Olin said the city’s legal staff and members of a city-county drug-investigation unit were still looking into the details of how the proposal might work.City prosecutor Jerry Little has said that penalties in municipal court would be comparable to those in District Court and, if convicted, the defendant still would be guilty of a misdemeanor. Little said he’s asked Dist. Atty. Charles Branson to send him information about how marijuana cases are typically handled in District Court.Note: Police chief, however, says idea may have merit.Staff writer Joel Mathis contributed to this report.Source: Lawrence Journal-World (KS)Author: Eric Weslander, Journal-World Published: Friday, August 26, 2005Copyright: 2005 The Lawrence Journal-WorldWebsite: http://www.ljworld.com/Contact: http://www.ljworld.com/site/submit_letter Related Articles & Web Site:Drug Policy Forum Of Kansashttp://www.drugsense.org/dpfks/City Marijuana Ordinance Courtedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21056.shtmlGroup Pushes To Ease Restrictions on Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21055.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #19 posted by OverwhelmSam on August 27, 2005 at 03:33:55 PT One City, One State at a Time ...until the GAME OVER sign flashes in their mind.People are pushing the gateway theory more than ever now. When will they realize that all drugs are gateway drugs. When children see there parents taking aspirin to feel better, bingo - the gateway is established. When they have a cup of coffee and a cigarette in the morning - they're poly users. When they get drunk and run off the road, they're addicts. There are gateways all over the place and to say marijuana is the gateway drug is simply ignorant propaganda. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by Jim Lunsford on August 27, 2005 at 00:44:01 PT The Government only intrudes as much as we (the people) permit it to do so. By choosing safety over freedom, greed over sharing, fear over knowledge, inaction over action, scarcity over abundance, and hate over love, we have lost those things we gave up. Luckily, we are always able to choose at any time to rectify these choices. It's up to us (as a collective) to rejoice as this is a time in which we can make a grand choice to wage peace upon the world. Peace, Rev Jim Have you planted your vote today? And was it on the courthouse steps? [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Hope on August 26, 2005 at 21:11:12 PT They just won't be happy unless they get more people killed over it."Marijuana enforcement is seen as an increasingly high priority for the federal government, according to a study released in May by The Sentencing Project, a think tank based in Washington, D.C." [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Hope on August 26, 2005 at 21:01:37 PT It's even better that the wicked foreigner guy is rich and Jewish. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Hope on August 26, 2005 at 21:00:39 PT Oh no... Not the wicked foreigner again?Time to drag out the George Soros's fear mongering routine again. They seem to have no conscience. That worries me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by The GCW on August 26, 2005 at 20:57:21 PT "liberalize drug laws”??? "liberalize drug laws” is calculated; it is the negative biased label for what is actually credible drug law reform…But not only do they slip in the term, "liberal(ized), they also slip in "drug." However, police types have certainly confiscated enough cannabis to see it is in fact,A PLANT.Class A Plant material.Then notice the word, "law."If You accept that God indicated He created all the plants and said they are good on the 1st page of the Bible, then Your law is different than their law;;; (AND YOU DO NOT DENY GOD FROM THE BEGINNING).If You don't except that man is allowed to make a law to cage some one for using what God says is good, then that is not the law.All things are legal but not all things are profitable.Rafael Lemaitre IS A REAL LIVE WOLF.& (Bruce Beale, director of DCCCA, SOUNDS LIKE AN ALKI RECOVERY PROJECT / WOLF WANNA BE.I've seen councelors that were recovered derolicks hardly able to carry themselves but because they were off the juice they were given / allowed / awarded a job.)But the point to notice:Bruce Beale , "said he would have no problem changing how drug violations are adjudicated, -as long as the change didn’t make it easier to get away with marijuana use."If it is easier to get away with "marijuana" use, He takes a hike looking for a new job???And notice what it actually is when We make it easier to get away with cannabis use:It's the end of caging humans for using a plant.This ignoid, strongly wishes to cage humans for using a good plant in order for Him to pull a check.Uhhh, When We harm others, We only harm Ourselves.When We kill others, We only kill Ourselves.The Green Collar Worker [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by ekim on August 26, 2005 at 19:22:05 PT Think + see a Leap Event . Create a Leap Event. On Friday, Howard is riding from near Sandusky through Huron, Ohio, and on to Vermillion, and possibly Lorain on US 6. follow Howard on his journey, go to: http://www.LEAP.cc/Howard Aug 27 05 "Last Call" on KDXU News Talk Radio 890AM with Dan Murphy 07:00 AM Jack Cole St. Georges UT USA Shark! Shark! Meth! Meth! Getting bit by a shark and using methamphetamine are both dangerous to one’s health. But just as the news media has hyped the number of shark attacks in recent years, the “meth epidemic” has also been over blown by these same news organizations. To put America’s meth situation into perspective and offer solutions for harm reduction, Executive Director Jack Cole discusses the Meth Myth with Dan Murphy host of "Last Call" on KDXU News Talk Radio 890AM, in St. Georges, Utah from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time, Saturday morning. On Friday, Howard is riding from near Sandusky through Huron, Ohio, and on to Vermillion, and possibly Lorain on US 6. follow Howard on his journey, go to: http://www.LEAP.cc/Howard Aug 28 05 Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron 07:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Akron Ohio USA Board Member Howard Wooldridge is a welcomed guest with members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron. Howard will be discussing the failure of America's war on drugs, plus all of the wonderful and helpful people that he has met during his cross country horse back journey. Visit http://www.uuakron.org/ for more information as the date gets closer. Aug 28 05 Akron Press Conference 06:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Akron Ohio USA Board Member Howard Wooldridge is the center of attraction when he participates in a press conference with members of the Akron, Ohio press corps. Howard will be discussing America's failed war on drugs, how the government compounds the problems caused by illicit drug use and what American citizens can do to lessen the harm. Howard will also be discussing his cross country journey to end the failed policies of drug prohibition. Aug 29 05 KZFR 90.1, Community Radio "Shattered Lives Radio Show" 05:30 PM Garry Jones Sacramento California USA Tune in, turn on, but don't drop out when Speaker Garry Jones is a phone in guest to KZFR 90.1, Sacramento, California, community radio show "Shattered Lives" with host Tim Elliot. Garry will be discussing a host of issues related to the failure of drug prohibition. Likely to come up is the swelling of America's prison population due to the government's attack on marijuana smokers, mandatory minimum sentencing, the racial bias of the current legal system and a host of other very topical issues. Aug 30 05 KRAI 93.7FM and 102.3FM Radio 03:00 PM John Kane Steamboat Springs Colorado USA On radio stations KRAI 93.7FM and 102.3FM, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Speaker Judge John Kane discusses illicit crystal methamphetamine use with Moffat County Sheriff Buddy Grinstead. Judge Kane has been a United States District Judge since 1977 and has seen first hand the devastating effect on the entire judicial system, both civil and criminal, that America's war on drugs has created. Judge Kane and Sheriff Buddy Grinstead are sure to provide an interesting discussion into methamphetamine use and the war on drugs in general. http://www.leap.cc/event [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by MikeEEEEE on August 26, 2005 at 19:08:57 PT Neocon Drink Have you had your Neocon today?Like Bush said, "God told me to bomb Iraq." Perhaps a psychiatric assessment would reveal more than a mild psychosis. I read somewhere, maybe Schizo—bipolar type, or just plain loser—(lower life form type).The drink that gives you super Neocon powers. 150 proof, void if prohibited in the US. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by John Tyler on August 26, 2005 at 18:42:22 PT Regulation? Yes, regulation of cannabis through proper retail outlets. This would create some great possibilities. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by global_warming on August 26, 2005 at 16:12:40 PT Welcome My Son Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.Where have you been? it’s alright we know where you’ve been.You’ve been in the pipeline, filling in time, provided with toys and ’scouting for boys’.You bought a guitar to punish your ma, And you didn’t like school, and you know you’re nobody’s fool,So welcome to the machine.Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.What did you dream?it’s alright we told you what to dream.You dreamed of a big star, he played a mean guitar,He always ate in the steak bar. he loved to drive in his jaguar.So welcome to the machine..... [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by kaptinemo on August 26, 2005 at 15:43:10 PT: "Regulation"? What freakin' 'regulation'? The Supremes used this very same word, and in almost the same incorrect connotation; they were in favor of the present system because it 'regulated' cannabis.Regulated? How, since 1937, have they ever been able to regulate cannabis? They have vanishingly small to no influence over importation and dissemination; hardly descriptive of the control implied by the word 'regulated'. The only time when it WAS truly regulated was when it was still listed in the US Pharmacopeia, with all the proper quality controls attendent with the *other* medicines.Every time some wonk from ONDCP makes these kinds of mentally questionable statements, I keep looking around for little blonde girls chasing anthropomorphic sentient rabbits down holes; the utterances of this Administration seem more and more like something out of "Alice in Wonderland". [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by AOLBites on August 26, 2005 at 12:21:50 PT Finally!! Last month a federal judge awarded $35,000 in compensatory and $6000 in punitive damages to a man state troopers arrested for video taping them.Given the Utah rave case[ http://www.boingboing.net/2005/08/23/armed_swat_team_atta.html ] and the Oakland police stop [http://www.boingboing.net/2005/08/26/oakland_sheriffs_det.html ] reported today, this seems like an important decision because it makes it clear that citizens are free to video law enforcement in action.The ruling finds violations of the plaintiff's first and fourth amendment rights. It states "The activities of the police, like those of other public officials, are subject to public scrutiny...Videotaping is a legitimate means of gathering information for public dissemination and can often provide cogent evidence, as it did in this case. In sum, there can be no doubt that the free speech clause of the Constitution protected Robinson as he videotaped the defendants on October 23, 2002....Moreover, to the extent that the troopers were restraining Robinson from making any future videotapes and from publicizing or publishing what he had filmed, the defendants' conduct clearly amounted to an unlawful prior restraint upon his protected speech....We find that defendants are liable under § 1983 for violating Robinson's Fourth Amendment right to be protected from an unlawful seizure..." http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/05D0847P.pdf [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on August 26, 2005 at 12:03:42 PT National vs. local I like how the national drug-law reform groups are portrayed as "evil" for coming in and influencing local policies - by federal agencies who are basically doing the same thing themselves.--Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, D.C., told the Journal-World on Thursday that marijuana was a “harmful drug” that should be strictly regulated. --Yes, but his version of "strict regulation" translates to an out-of-control black market. Was alcohol more strictly regulated in the 1920s or today? The laws back then were stricter in theory, but in practice everything was way more chaotic. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Skillet on August 26, 2005 at 11:06:49 PT: One mistake Beale made a huge mistake that I am sure he will be "retrained" on: "Marijuana and alcohol, he said, are “gateway drugs”. Now we can't have alcohol called into question as a gateway drug on the same scale as cannabis. If so the whole reason to keep either alcohol legal or cannabis illegal falls apart. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mamawillie on August 26, 2005 at 10:55:23 PT Ya think? "“Marijuana is a great source of ignorance for many people,” Lemaitre said."Agreed, ya dumbass! (Sorry, FOM, had to do it...)"“Prosecutions are typically a deterrent,” Beale said.""The study found that marijuana arrests grew by 113 percent between 1990 and 2002"Really? Prosecutions are a deterrant? Hum. 113 percent increase in use. Why can't these people see in black and white that their lies are OBVIOUS? Beale's job is nice and cushy right now with all the pot users forced into treatment to avoid jail time. He's got to work the system and say the right things so that he can get a nice end of the year bonus based on admissions.....He doesn't mind a change in adjucations.. as long as he still gets his admissions... [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Skillet on August 26, 2005 at 10:49:16 PT: "Many people..... ...think that it’s a soft drug or harmless drug, that law enforcement is wasting its resources by prosecuting these cases. That’s not true.” Um, yeah that's the ticket. It's not true I tell ya! You many people are all idiots. All of you.....really. I wonder how "many people" ? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 26, 2005 at 10:23:48 PT I'm So Not Left or Right Why are there only extremes anymore? Either a person is a liberal or a conservative. I am not any political party and I don't want to be grouped on either side. There are many people who are not into politics but care about our country and the way it's going. I am not angry like many folks are. I'm just upset and saddened by the extremes. What is wrong with being a middle of the road type person anymore? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dongenero on August 26, 2005 at 10:18:54 PT and don't forget.... ......the vast left wing conspiracy.....also known as anyone who opposes this administration's policy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dongenero on August 26, 2005 at 10:16:46 PT ONDCP...... .......is the great source of ignorance. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment